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Small Business

What is a Pass-Through Entity?

Selecting a business type is a lot like buying a car. There are pros and cons to consider with every vehicle and some will be more suited to your individual needs than others. The same is true when setting up a business. That said, tax treatment is one of the major issues that could lead you to choose one type over another. 

With that in mind, the term “pass-through” entity comes up a lot in the literature on business formation. Simply put, a pass-through entity is a company that does not pay corporate tax. Instead, the income “passes through” to the owner, meaning the tax obligation is paid only once on his or her personal return. As you can imagine, this feature can be a major advantage.

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Small Business

Do I Need an Operating Agreement for My California LLC?

If you’ve recently formed an LLC, you should congratulate yourself on completing the important first step of choosing a business structure. However, keep in mind that there are additional items that should be on your checklist as part of the formation process. One of these is the operating agreement.

Note that California is one of the few states that legally requires LLCs to have an operating agreement. But, there are a number of benefits these documents provide even if you live in a location where they are not mandated by law. 

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Small Business

Why Should I Care About Limiting Liability?

As a business owner, your focus is likely on how to make sure things go right. However, sometimes the unexpected happens, so it can be helpful to have certain protections in place to make sure that your organization not only survives but thrives.

That said, you may have come across the term “limiting liability” and wondered how this relates to your business. Generally speaking, liability refers to the person or entity that is responsible for a debt.